Railway



R. 0. THOMPSON.

RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1919.

1 ,359,25, v Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

Isl-.I

- ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATEN-T-lectrice.

ROBERT O. THOMPSON, 0F CAMPBELL HALL, NEW YORK.

RAILWAY.` l

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted NOV, 16, 1920 i Appiication inea Apre 9, 1919;` serviaiNo. 288326.

contract or expand in response to a iall orl rise intemperature due to changes in the weather or in the seasons of the year.

An object of my invention is to provide a railway in which the rails making up the traclrare shaped and united in such fashion that any up and down movement of: the ends of the rails, wlienrolling stock is passing over the same, is prevented, and thereby all pounding of the endsoi the rails upon the` cross-ties is avoided; and in which the rails are braced laterally to counteract the effect of forces tending/,to distort the track. and

engaged at points between their ends so that the possibility 'of any longitudinal movement ot the' rails, such as shitting 'or creeping or" the same. is entirely obviated.

An important feature of my invention isV a rail-seat ot special design, which is secured tothe cross-ties at both the middle and the ends or" the rails. and which serves. both to strengthen the rails and keep them in proper position; theseats at the ends ot' the rails being adapted to hold the rails against movementI sidewise and those the middle oi the rails acting to hold the rails against movement in a lateral direction: and longitudinal movementlikewise; all the` seats further acting to prevent tilting of the rails when an outward thrust is exerted'upon the latter.

@ther objects and Vadvantages of my invention willl appear trom the following description. taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the best embodiment or" myV invention now known to me. This disclosure, however, is explanatory only, and I may ot coursey resort to changes in what is actually shown,

within the scop and spirit of my invention as the saine is defined by the general meanings of the terms in which the appendedv claims are expressed.

On the drawings y Figure l shows in the plan a portion of a railway according toy my invention;

Fig. 2 isa perspective -View 'of a seat 'for engaging the rails thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through one of the rails, illustrating the'manner in which one rail is connected to another to provide a joint between them;

F ig. Li is a perspective viewshowin'g howy the rails are shaped at their ends;

Fig. 5 is a view of the inner 'faces of a fish-plate employed'in the joints for thev rails in my invention; y

Fig. 6 is a top plan of the same;

Fig. 7 is atop plan oi a companion fishplate of slightly modiiied' construction;

Fig; S-is a side view of the rails at the joints between them; j

Fig. '9 is a side view of an element for.

joints between the rails; andv Fig. l0 is a top plan of a portion ofone of therails showing how the same are shaped adjacent the middle of the same so as to beengaged bythe rail-seats and held' against Athrees 'at the middle and ends of the same f' bv a special rail-seat 'upon which the middle 1 preventing the `loosening of the bolts in the and. ends ofthe rails-rest. Only the ties 'at the middle and ends of the rails appear in Fig. i; those between the ends and middle or". the rails being omitted,v for the sake of Vclearness.A Each rail comprises a base 3, a

web 4 and a ball 5; and;- as shown particu larly inFig. 4, the faces of the ends of thel rails which extend over the bases 3V andl websi, VareV perpendicular to the lengths of vthe rails., while the terminal faces'of the balls or tops are inclined with respectto the length of the rails. f In other words; the

rails are cut'oii" squarely at their ends over the bases and webs. whileathe ends of the tops are beveled. Therefore, when the rails are laid end to `end on the lties,the web 4i of Y one rail will provide aV corner at one rend which projectslin front of the beveled end at the top, and may extend under the beveled end of the top of the adjacent rail; thereby helping to support the adjacent rail when the'weight of a vcar or locomotive comes upon the same. By shaping the ends of the rails in this way, a vehicle running along the track will apply its weight to the ends of the successive rails gradually; reaching one rail before 1t entirely leaves the last one. For example, the wheels of a train traveling from left to right in Fig. 1, will engage the pointed extremities at the tops of the middle rails before leaving the pointed extremities at the tops ofthe rails shown in part at the left; and because of this gradual transfer of weight from one rail to the other, the ends of the rails are not subjected suddenly to any great downward acting force, as in the case Voffvrails having their ends cut off squarely from ball to base; and,

consequently, the pounding of the ends ofV the rails upon the cross-ties is entirely eliminated. `The corner of the web 4, shown in Fig. 4, as projecting beyond the lower edge of the beveled face of the top 5, helps materially to afford this result, because it enables` the end of one rail to afford some support to Vmight otherwise occur as a result of the inclined or beveled faces of the tops 5 ofthe rails,can take'place.

As shown in Fig. 1, the lateral edges of the bases 3 of the rails, are continuous and uninterrupted at the ends of the rails .while the lateral edges of the bases 3 at the middlel of therails, are provided with notches 6,

for the purpose of enabling the rails to be engaged and held against longitudinal move- `ment bythe seats disposed upon the ends of the ties 1. Each of these seats, as shown in Fig. 2comprises` abody 7, yto be mounted upon the ends of three adjacent ties; which are preferably tojbe secured together at their opposite ends by means of bands or strips 8.

These bands orV strips 8 make the three ties at the ends of the rails and-.at the'middle of the same, fast with one Vanotherggiving in effect a single tie atithe 'points mentioned.

Flach seat comprises'transverse Vportions 9 resting upon the ends of the ties, and portions 10 connectingthe portions 9. Each portion 9 is provided with projections 11 bent downward against the sides of the ties; Y. these projections having openings? through which nails or spikes can be driven to hold bent over and upward, and which have their edges turned to provide strengthening ribs 14. In addition to the spikes driven I through the projections 11,1 may also drive spikes into the ties through openings 15 in the opposite ends of the portions 9. One of these seats will be at the middle of each rail, and one at the end of the same; each rail resting upon the'entire seat disposed at the middle thereof, Vand upon half the seat disposed at the extremity of the same, as indicated in Fig. 1.

j W hen the railsare in position upon the ties, and the seats therefor are secured to the ends of theties at the middle and ends of the rails, the rails and their seats will lrbe in such relation that the bases of the Vrails will extend across the portions 9 and along the connecting portions 10 from the end of each seat to the other; with the extensions 13 on the outside of 'the rails and engaging the same along the lower faces of Y the balls or tops of the rails 2f These extensions 13 thus constitute braces which havethe effect of strengthening the rail laterally; preventing spreading and other distortion, and they are especially useful upon curves where the outer rail receives most of the thrust of the train wheels. The seats at Ythe middle of each of the rails engage the seats will have similar projections between which `thevbases 3 of therails will be located; ybut the bases 3 of the rails will not be provided with any notches or indentations 6 at the ends of the rails, as already stated. These projections 12 secure the rails against any movement toward each other,

and cooperate with the braces 13 to hold .Y

the rails againstany movement away from each other or spreading apart; while the projections 12Vat the middle of each rail have the additional function of preventing the lengthwise movement of the rail, but do not interfere with the usual expansion or contraction of the rail upon changes in temperature. By the absence Vof indentations 6 Y in the bases 3 at the endsof the rail, lthese expansions and contractions due to tempera` ture changes, are allowed .to take place Y freely; but they can only manifest themselves in slight movements of the rail ends toward each other or in the rail ends shrinking apart. Under such conditions the rail Yends can slide to the required extent along the seats beneaththem, but each rail remains anchored securely in the middle.Y Of course I may use in connection with my railway, the spikes ordinarily employed to fasten the bases of the rails to the `crossties; putting these spikes wherever needed in the ties between the seats or even driving them through the seats also if desired.

To unite the ends ofthe rails, I employ a fish-plate 16 havingrecesses 17 into which I insert anti-frictional elements, such as rollers 18. The recesses are preferably provided by boring into the fish-plate at its lateral edges; the recesses extendingY not quite through from one edge to the other, and being of such design that they expose a portion of rollers 18, as shown in Figs. and 7, projecting slightly beyond the inner face of the plate. vAs will be understood these rollers can be slipped into the recesses 17 lengthwise, butcannot be removed sidewise therefrom.v TwoY ish-plates are employed, each having recesses 17 with rollersy 1S, and one having smoothA holesj19; the other having bolt holes which are 'threaded as shown at 20. The fish-plates are attached as shown in Figs. 3 and 8,- bolts 21 Vbeing employed to make these fish-plates grip 'to the webs of two adjacent rails between them lwith' the rollers 18 in contact with the opposite faces of the webst. These bolts will be threaded vat one end and have heads 22 at the other; but between the threaded ends and the heads they are smooth to pass freely'through the openings 19in one plate, and take-hold of thethreads in e the openings 20 in the other.V By this Yconthe plate is applied' by fitting it over the heads of the bolts 21. Of course the bolts can always be turned'in suchposition that the plate 24 can be fitted against the adjacent'fsh-plate 16 andengage the heads 22 of all of the bolts; It is held in place byv drilling holes through the heads 22 of not morethan two of the bolts and applying retaining elements such as Cotter pins 26.

The seats at the middle of the rails will be the same as the seats at the ends ofthe Y rails; except that the projections 12 Vof the seats being placed at the middle of the rails, will be closer together to enter the indentations 6; while the projections 12 of the seats for the ends of the rails must be at least as far apart as the widthvof the bases 3. As will be understood, these seats can be made by stamping and bending them out of a single piece ofmetal.

inexpensive; and well adapted to attain the` ends and purposes of my invention.

Vnsindicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the seats for the railshave the projections 12to be disposed along the inner vedges of the bases of the rails bentsomewhat toward the portions 10 so as to extend over the' adjacent edges of thev bases 3 ofthe rails, both at the middle Vof each rail where'these projections enter the indentations 6,' and at the ends of the rails -where there lare no such indentations.

tilted orupset when the flange of the wheel of a car or locomotive exerts a thrust against the side of the tops of therails in an-out-V ward direction, as isthe case when a curve is encountered or when the rolling stock sways from side to side on `either a curved or straight track. f

I also wish to call attention toY the fact thatl the lower faces of the tops 5 of each rail on both sides'of the web 4, are made fiat overa given width; so are portions ofthe bases alongv the web 4 directly-'below the fiat under faces of the'tops The fishplates v16 rest upon the flat horizontal portions of the bases 3 along their lowerl edges,

and the tops'of the fishplates engage the i I fiat under faces of thetops 5 of the rails.`

Hence, the fish-plates not only unite the ends Y kof the rails, but also strengthen fand sup# port the points of the beveledends ofthe tops 5; especially along the inside of the rails, where the weight of the' rolling stock is most felt. Along the outside of the rails thev fish-plates 16 may be vbeveled slightlyalong' their outer edges or recessed thereat to enable the projections 13 to engage the under faces of the tops 5 as best shown in Fig. 3. y I Y lVhile I have shown the bands 8 as connecting the ends of three ties, I may obvil' ously unite the ends of more than three ties by this band if circumstances require, when the rail-seats are to' be placed into position.' AI may also make these rail-seats so as to engage the tops of more than three rails at the ends or even less than three rails, if

necessary. Y

Preferably,there is' to be a roller 18 adjacent each of-the bolts 21`so that no matter how tight the bolts are turned, the surface of the'iishplates willl not lie directly in contact with the webs 4.

The `orojections 11 lare of great vvalue Vin f Y securing the rail-seats to the ties; and any fastening device which is driventhrough y erted on the rails to ldisplace thelatter. Ob-

viously such forceA will act not in a directionpanding and contracting as much as necesi sary. A

As will be understood, the rollers 'V18 allow the expansion and contraction of the rails by keeping the fish-plates from binding uponY the webs, and yet enable the bolts to hold the-plates and the rails tightly enough to make elicient joints.

The rails are assembled withV the seats` either by sliding the seats Von the bottoms of the i rails by endwise movement and then fastening the seats to the ties; or the proj ections l2 which engage the inner edges of the bases of the rails may be shaped to allow the rails to be set down on the seats` against the extensions 13, and these projections bent upward and over to secure the rail and seat together. Any otherfeasible andconvenient way of assembling the rails and seats may be followed if desired. Y Y

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United tates is:

l. A seat fora rail comprising portions to rest upon and to vb e secured to cross-ties for the rail, and portions for connecting the first named portions, the firstv named portions having braces-for engaging the outside of the rail adjacent the top of the same, the connecting portions having projections along their opposite edges for engaging both sides ofthe base of the rail.

2, VA railway comprising cross-ties, rails thereon;kbands for uniting the ends of a plurality of said cross-ties at the ends and middle of the rails; seats resting upon and secured to the ends of cross-ties at the middle and the ends of said rails; the seats at the middle of the'rails havingrprojections engaging ndentations in the basesl of the rails; the seats at the ends of the rails having projections in eachY of the edges of the bases thereof; all of said seats Vhaving braces engaging the outside of the rails Y under the tops thereof,rthe tops of said rails being beveled at the ends; fish-plates for uniting said ends, said fish-plates car-` rying anti-frictional elements to engage the rails; bolts for causing the ish-plates to grip thel rails, said rails; havingI elongated,

openings to give passage to the bolts; and l a member for locking said bolts. A

3.- A railway comprising cross-ties, rails` thereon; seats toV rest upon said cross-ties at the middle and ends of said rails, each of said seats comprisingY portions to Vbe n secured to the cross-ties and portions'for connecting. they first, named. portions, theJ `V` first named portions having braces for engaging the outside of theV rails adjacent theVV top of the same and the connecting porf tions having yprojections along their oppositeedges for engaging both sides of the bases of the rails.v Y

4. A railway comprising cross-ties, rails thereon; and seats forV the middle and ends of saidrails, each seat comprising portions to rest upon and besecuredto the cross-ties and .portions for connecting the v`first named portions, the lfirst named portions of allV side of the rails adjacent theV topsof the same, while the Vconnecting portions of the, seats at the middle of the rails haveprojections to engage indentations in 'the bases of seats having braceslfor engaging theV out- Y the rails to hold the rails against lateral and longitudinal movement, and the connecting portions of theseats at the ends of the rails have projections to engage the edges of the bases of thefrailsto holdsaidv rails Y,

against lateral movement but permitting the ends of the' rails to` move thereon, as the rails expand and contract. v j

5'. A seat for a rail comprising portions to rest upon and be secured tocross-ties for the rail, said portions having downwardextendingprojections to be fastened to the sides of said ties, and portions for connecting the first-named portions, the first-named portions also having braces vfor engaging the outside of the rail adjacent the top of the same, the connecting portions having projections along theirropposite edges for engaging both sides of the base ofthe rail.

thereon, seats to rest upon Vsaid cross-ties at the middle and .endsV of said rails, each railway comprising cross-ties, railsV of said seats comprising portions to be secured to the cross-ties andportions for connecting the first-named portions, the firstnamed portions having c downward-extending projections to be fastenedV to the sides n of the ties, andhaving braces for engaging the outside of the rails adjacent the tops of the same, and the connectingY portions hav- I,

ing projections along theirropposite edges'.

for engaging both sidesof the bases of the rails. Y Y i 7. A railway comprising cross-ties, rails thereon, and seats for the middle and ends of said rails each seat comprising portions to rest upon andl be secured to the crossties, and portions for connecting the rstnamed portions, the first-named portions of all seats having downward-extending the rails having projections to engagethe projections to loev fastened to the sides of bases of the rails to hold said rails against the ties and having braces for engaging the lateral movement but permitting the ends outside of the rails adjacent the tops of the of the railsto move thereon as the rails eX- -5 same,A While the connecting portions of the pand and contract.

Y 15 seats at the middle of the rails have Yprojecn Witness whereof I have signed my tions to engage indentations inthe bases of name to this speeitioationthis 29th day of Y thekrails to hold the rails against lateral Marcin 1919. vand longitudinal movement7 and the oon- 10 nesting portions of the seats at the ends of ROBT. O. 

